Pattern of Seven: The Armor of God ~ Intro

I love the Word of God. When I reworked this website in 2019 for the purpose of highlighting the seven redemptive gifts, it was the result of years of life gone before, with the pattern of seven evident. It still is.

In April 2012, seven years before re-launching this website, I wrote two Wellspring of Life posts surrounding our longstanding religious understanding of the Armor of God. Though I didn’t know it at the time, Christ our Apparel, Part 1 and 2 was Holy Spirit’s prelude to the Redemptive Gifts Pattern of Seven – The Armor of God. I encourage reading the two-part Christ our Apparel for background. The posts are also testament to the personal way in which Christ relates with us through his Holy Spirit.

Introduction

During our ministries’ one-year sabbatical (April 2021-April 2022), one of the passages in which I found myself immersed was the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18. With pen and a sheet of paper turned lengthwise, I charted the pieces of armor in relationship to the seven redemptive gifts. Simple enough.

The illumination over a dozen years ago of what it means to “put on Christ” was now further enhanced by the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “Stand firm, then, with…” the Armor of God: Christ. In us, us in Him.

Since Sabbatical, I’ve often revisited the chart, adding notes and scriptural connections as Holy Spirit caused more “BBs in a boxcar” to collide. The intervening years from 2012 on, which included circling back to immersion in the redemptive gifts, found my waters of understanding rising as Holy Spirit amplified Christ’s character, attributes, and spiritual authority meant to be operating in His Body.

“It’s not about religion, it’s about relationship with Christ” has been expressed by many for a long time. Considering relationship is one of the most assaulted areas of our humanity, in turn causing damage to individuals and relationships, it’s no wonder that ‘relationship with Christ’ is challenged by religion, too.

To the Ephesian saints in Ephesus – and to us who believe

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is itself full of revelation of Christ and His Body. The Revelation of Jesus Christ that the Apostle John received while banished to the isle of Patmos, in no way diminishes the unveilings of Christ that Paul received during his years in the wilderness. Rather, the two are co-joined.

For eyes and ears trained on figuring out where we are these days in the Book of Revelation, the preparedness for how we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes is delivered in Ephesians.  

Some of the hardest to understand – thus turned legalistic – teachings to the Body of Christ have arisen from this letter to the early believers in Ephesus. It has resulted in many earnest believers still fighting with the armor of the old self that is to be put off, while given a new self to put on, which is Christ.

In between putting off the old and putting on the new is the exhortation to “be made new in the attitude of our minds.” (Eph. 4:22-24) This is the work Holy Spirit was sent to accomplish in the lives of as many who would believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer.  We need the ‘attitude of our mind’ renewed for the mind of Christ in us to freely operate. It’s not “God’s got this.” It is “God has me.”

The New Self

The new self we are to put on was ‘created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.’ (Ephesians 4:20-24) The Greek attributes to the word created in this verse, the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer; to fabricate, that is found, (form originally). From conformed to transformed as formed.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 – NIV84

Imagine that. The new self He had for us from the very beginning. “You, (your name), are found in Me.”

Pattern of Seven – The Armor of God

Each of the pieces of The Armor of God relates to the seven portions of the design of our human spirit.

The old self is the fabrication of the pattern of this world. The new self is Christ, by whom we have been redeemed so that we might live and move and have our being found and formed in Him. A priceless gift.

The Armor of God is not about warring as fleshly combatants still guarded by the armor of the old self, patterned after the world’s way of thinking and judging. Which is the way we were conformed (Gr. fashion alike, fashion self according to the world’s pattern) before we came to Christ. It is nothing short of spiritual warfare to engage the battle of the old self versus the new self. If we are going to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power in our day, we must put on Christ – the full Armor of God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

Going Forward

The Pattern of Seven is based on the truth that Jesus Christ embodies the fullness of the image of God.

Given that –

• the armor we are exhorted to put on is God’s Armor, and that
• Holy Spirit gave Paul the revelation to put on Christ, and that
• we who belong to Christ were created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness,

How much strength and encouragement may we draw from the One who tells us there is more with us than with them (the enemies of God)? Though the battles wage hard, it is for our preparedness to stand.

Part 2 will continue Pattern of Seven – The Armor of God as it relates to the seven redemptive gifts and the community of the human spirit. Individually and corporately in the Body of Christ with He, our Head.

~ Nancy

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